World

Sunday, March 15, 2009

China deploys marines in Paracel Islands in South China Sea

(China Defense Mashup Report by Johnathan Weng) — This week Chinamil.com (the official website of PLA Daily) released some photos about the training of PLA marine border forces deployed in some islands of Xisha Qundao, which is named as Paracel Islands in western countries. These photos reveal that China has deployed great land power on some captured islands and provided some heavy weapons, like the Type 59 MBT and Armed Z-9 Helicopter.

The Paracel Islands are a group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea administered by the People’s Republic of China[citation needed] but also claimed by Vietnam. The Republic of China, commonly known as “Taiwan”, formally claims to be the legitimate government representing the entire sovereignty of China, of which it considers the Paracel Islands a part.

In March 2009, during China’s CPPCC and NPC ongoing annual sessions in Beijing, some deputies urge that activities violating China’s sovereignty is not allowed and oceanic development has become a strategic focus in the 21st century to gain new resources, expand living space and promote economic and social development.